Celtics join victory parade

The good times just keep rolling in Hub

Credit: Matthew West

Kevin Garnett (right) and Paul Pierce hoist the championship trophy after Game 6.

Welcome to Boston, the parade capital of America. If you lived here, you’d be celebrating a championship now.

Six years and four months, six titles, three sports. A trio of Super Bowls, a pair of World Series, an NBA Finals. Now it is the Celtics’ turn to tour the city’s maze of angular neighborhoods and one-way streets as spring turns to summer, yet another reminder of why New England is such a special place to live, no matter the time of year.

Here, we truly have a glorious change of seasons.

“Since the day I came here, man, adidas put this poster board out in the front to sort of invite me to the city or whatever,” Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said in the wake of the team’s winning its 17th championship Tuesday night. “It has like over 100,000 signatures on it. People had (large) signatures on it and you can read (them). Since Day 1, man, Paul (Pierce) told me that this city is unlike any other city when it comes to sports, and (if) you give them a reason, they will jump on (board) and they will be behind you, even when you’re losing or even when you’re going through tough times. I got to see that.

“I thought I played in front of some good crowds (before), and Boston has a special place. I’ll be forever linked to this city, and I’m more than grateful for that.”

Aren’t we all. (No question mark!)

Another day, another title, another parade. Some things just never get old, eh? From the summer of 1986 to the winter of 2001-02, local teams won not a single world championship in baseball, basketball, football or hockey. Not one. Players didn’t want to come here, ownership floundered, coaches shuttled in and out of a town that might as well have run them through a meat grinder.

Today, the city skyline stands for success and stability. The Patriots’ Bill Belichick is the most accomplished coach of his era, maybe of all time. Later this year, Terry Francona will become the first Red Sox manager to endure five full seasons since the World War II era. Doc Rivers just outcoached the great Phil Jackson, in the process preserving an NBA coaching record shared by the great Red Auerbach.

The Celtics could have fired Rivers following last season, succumbing to the frustration felt by their fan base. Instead, they brought back the coach and changed the players.

What a concept.

“You can feel it from the fans,” Rivers said of the passion (good and bad) that comes along with competing in Boston. “You know, you really could feel it almost from the Red Sox fans before they won their first one. I was here already, and the frustration (translated to) dedication. This year was obviously easy as far as fans were concerned. My first year wasn’t bad. We won our division. I thought the two years in between is when I appreciated the Celtic fans more than anything, and really on the road. I was amazed how many Celtic fans were in the crowd, just cheering. Some of them said, ‘Get rid of Doc,’ but most of them were cheering.

“It just showed me that they’re there - and we needed to supply them with a reason to really come out. And (on Tuesday), driving to the arena, it looked like every person in Boston was wearing something green or had on a Paul Pierce or Ray Allen jersey. That was really sweet to see.”

Today, seven-plus months after celebrating the Red Sox’ second World Series championship in four seasons, the city honors the Celtics, the most successful team in NBA history. A year ago, the Celtics lost a franchise-record 18 straight games and finished with the second-worst record in the league. Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge then overhauled the roster in what was nothing short of a basketball Big Dig.

In the process, Garnett became a Celtic just as Randy Moss became a Patriot, and for the same reasons, too. Garnett came here to win. Moss came here to win. In the arena or the field, even along the city blocks from the harbor to the Charles, Boston is the place to be.

“You know you’re a Celtic when the other players come up to you and they congratulate you to be here,” Garnett said. “They explain the tradition to be here. It’s like coming into a frat. They let you know right away that it’s about tradition here and it’s about the team. That’s right up my alley. I’ve never been a selfish guy or a selfish player. It’s so much motivation coming in here every day with the banners on the wall and seeing the ex-players come in and watching you practice.

“There’s so much responsibility putting this jersey on. I don’t really think you guys understand how much responsibility it is to come in here to carry tradition, Celtic Pride.”

Sure we do.

Like the saying goes, the name on the front of the jersey is more important than the name on the back.